Artwork
Elizabeth Oakes Prince Smith (Mrs. Seba Smith)
Elizabeth Oakes Prince Smith (Mrs. Seba Smith) is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist John Wesley Paradise. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: Elizabeth. O. Smith / John. W. Paradis f.
About this work
History & Provenance
It later entered the collection of Cornelius Michaelsen in New York, where it was offered at the Rains Galleries sale of 8 May 1935 as lot 87.
The portrait of Elizabeth Oakes Prince Smith by John Wesley Paradise dates to 1845 and was painted in oil on canvas. The work’s early recorded ownership traces to Weston, New York, before passing to Albert Rosenthal in Philadelphia. It later entered the collection of Cornelius Michaelsen in New York, where it was offered at the Rains Galleries sale of 8 May 1935 as lot 87.
Chester Dale acquired it in New York and bequeathed it to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1963.
The portrait is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It entered the NGA collection in 1963 as part of the bequest of Chester Dale (1883–1962) of New York. Earlier ownership traced in the provenance includes Albert Rosenthal (1863–1939) of Philadelphia and Cornelius Michaelsen of New York, with an initial location of Weston, New York. The work appeared on the art market through Rains Galleries in New York on 8 May 1935, listed as lot 87 in the sale titled Important American Prints and Paintings Collected by Cornelius Michaelsen, Esq., from which Chester Dale subsequently acquired it. No additional exhibition history beyond this 1935 sale is documented in the available records.
Legacy
The 1845 portrait of Elizabeth Oakes Smith by John Wesley Paradise has been recognized by scholars and collectors as a representative example of mid‑nineteenth‑century American portraiture. After passing through the collections of Albert Rosenthal, Cornelius Michaelsen and Chester Dale, the work was bequeathed to the National Gallery of Art in 1963, where it remains on public view. Its inclusion in the 1935 Rains Galleries exhibition of American prints and paintings underscored contemporary appreciation of the piece, and its presence in a major national museum has contributed to ongoing scholarly discussion of Smith’s artistic legacy.
Overview
John Wesley Paradise painted this oil on canvas portrait, Elizabeth Oakes Prince Smith (Mrs. Seba Smith), around 1845. The work depicts its namesake subject, a woman seated within an interior space. She is shown in period attire, holding a book, suggesting her intellectual pursuits. The artist’s rendering captures her likeness, presenting a detailed and lifelike representation.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of this portrait is Elizabeth Oakes Smith, a notable figure in 19th-century American letters. She gained recognition as an author of both poetry and prose. Beyond her literary contributions, Smith was also a prominent voice in discussions surrounding women's rights, advocating for social change. Her portrayal with a book underscores her identity as an intellectual and writer.
Technique & Style
Paradise employed a meticulous approach in rendering Elizabeth Oakes Prince Smith. The artist focused on capturing precise details in her facial features and clothing, contributing to a sense of verisimilitude. This careful execution results in a lifelike quality.
The technique of glazing, involving thin layers of translucent paint, may have been utilized to achieve depth and luminosity in the portrait.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
- Ksenia Cavos
Portrait of Teresa Żebrawska née Hanowicz
Portrait of Elizaveta Nikolaevna Odintsova
Amazon
Portrait of Dieuwke Fontein, second Wife of Adriaan van der Hoop
Johanna Christina Beelenkamp (1820-90). Wife of Cornelis Outshoorn
Portrait of Wife Antonina
Mary Ann Garrits
Hedvig Ulrika Wilhelmina Tschepurnov s. Federley
Madame Mols-de Brialmont
Trinidad Saravia de Huergo
Portrait of Apolonia Anaszkowska